“She went willingly—to save me,” Wendy said. “The Shadow would have killed me—”
“Don't you understand?” Drew snapped. His fangs extracted from his mouth, and he let out an angry growl. “The only reason your life was in danger in the first place is because you were too consumed with your loss that you could not see to use your powers and stop them! You control air—it’s everywhere. It is not as though you need to conjure fire or water. You pluck air from the wherever you are and tame it, bend it to your will. I do not understand how you could—”
“Christopher is gone, Drew.” Wendy's voice cracked, her eyes filling with tears. “As a witch, I am destined to live forever, yet I still chose to settle down and spend a portion of that time with him. Don’t you understand? You must. I’m certain that is how you feel about Kelia.”
“Do not begin to compare your feelings with Christopher to mine with her,” Drew said, flaring his nostrils. He stared at his hands to stop himself from glaring at her, but he clenched the rudder until his knuckles turned white. “You did not protect Christopher. I tried to protect Kelia. I tried. I should never have let her leave this ship. I knew this would happen. You all think you know what’s best, but you know nothing of the Queen. You haven’t any idea what she will do to Kelia. You think you are in pain because you have lost the great love of your life? Death would be a kindness by comparison. And the Queen will break her, rip her soul into tiny shreds, until she rues the day she ever met me.”
A powerful silence descended the ship. Even the sea seemed to quiet its roar. Though Drew knew his heartache caused him to be cruel and callous to his sister in that moment, a fury greater than he had ever known drowned out any sense of reason, or shred of kindness.
“Leave me.” He dismissed them with a flick of his wrist. “I do not want to see you any longer. Get out of my sight. All of you.”
“You don’t give Kelia enough credit,” Daniella said, and Drew's gaze snapped to hers, a raging fire consuming him. But Daniella didn’t flinch. “Kelia is stronger than you realize, and you do a great disservice to her by assuming the worst. Perhaps her body will break, but her mind will not. Or do you forget how annoyingly stubborn she is?”
Drew let his fiery gaze linger, but he couldn’t speak. He was already preparing himself for the worst. The Queen had Kelia, and he had to get her back.
He just hoped he wouldn’t be too late.
Chapter 25
The Sea Shadow barely spoke to Kelia in the four days it took to get to another island. She had no idea what this place was or why it was here, but the minute the island came into view, she knew it was different. It was small and still, as though there was no life here. There was heavy mist that touched the island, as though hanging over it like an ominous warning, hiding something evil. It was almost as though the island itself was plagued by dark magic, though Kelia could not decipher why she felt that way.
The island itself was rich in greenery. Even from where she was—stepping onto the wooden dock—she could see the white sand that was probably soft to run between her fingers, could see the bright, colorful flowers just past the shore. It was an island of beauty, of peace, but even so, Kelia stiffened with suspicion.
The past four days had not been easy for her. What little food was on the boat was given to her in scraps, and she barely had any water to drink. She tried to avoid the Shadow as much as possible, but the small boat made doing so difficult. He slept outside while she slept in the used cot in the cabin where he could keep her locked up.
Kelia's thoughts were solely about Drew Knight. Her heart was struck with a heaviness she could not ignore. It was as though her chest ached with a pain she could not get over and stayed with her whether it was morning or evening.
“The Isle de Sangre,” the Shadow said the minute he tied the boat to the unused dock.
There were no other ships or boats around. Kelia did not know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
“Hang on,” Kelia murmured. Her voice cracked from underuse, and she had to swallow in hopes that it would ease the discomfort in her throat. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. “How are you able to step on land? It's daytime.”
The Shadow grinned. “This island was made specifically for our kind, human,” he said. “It's been magicked to allow us to walk around during the day.”
Kelia pressed her lips together so she did not say something she would later regret. Instead, she looked around and took in the carefully crafted wooden dock. It made no sense why someone would put such time and effort into this when the usage of the dock did not seem to be common.
The Shadow—Kelia still did not know his name and did not particularly care to—helped her from the boat so she could step on the dock. She nearly lost her footing. Without the consistent food she was used to receiving on the Wraith, she had gotten lightheaded and weak. She could not even practice her fighting because she had dropped her blade before leaving with the Shadow.
Kelia let out a shaky breath. The Shadow grabbed her upper arm and began to lead her away from the ocean. After a moment—and without her permission—he tossed her over his shoulder and took off at his inhuman sped. Kelia clung to him. She did not like anyone holding her besides Drew, but because of his speed, he had no choice.
When they finally stopped, the Shadow placed Kelia down on her feet and held onto her until she found her balance. She turned to see where they were, and her mouth dropped open. They stood outside tall, ebony gates that surrounded a white, two-story manor. There was a marble fountain outside that ran with blood instead of water. The metallic scent and crimson color were undeniable.
The Shadow waited outside the gates, not saying anything, but keeping his eyes on the double doors. Kelia shifted her weight from one foot to the next, trying to hide her nervousness. She picked at the material of her clothes—clothes she wanted to strip from her body and never have to wear again, considering she had worn them for five days and probably smelled. She had not even had a chance to run a brush through her hair or to clean her teeth.
“What are we waiting for?” Kelia asked after a long moment. She glanced behind her. Even though trails were formed, she could not hear the sound of people walking about, could not hear horses trotting or the squeak of the wheels on a carriage. There was an eerie silence that filled the island, and Kelia was not sure if it was because it was rather empty, or if something more nefarious was going on. “What are we doing here?”
“I am taking you to the Queen,” the Shadow said. “We are waiting for one of her envoys to meet us here and escort us to her. You would not go straight to your king, would you?”
Kelia clenched her jaw and looked away. She thought about trying to escape, but decided against it. Even if he was the only Shadow on the island, he was stronger and faster than she could ever hope to be. Although, the way Drew protected her, his insistence on abiding by his rules—as unfair as they were—gave her pause. Would death be better than enduring what this Queen would force Kelia to endure simply because Drew Knight…
She didn’t finish the thought. Her eyes pricked with tears, and the last thing she would do was cry in front of this Shadow, or the Queen. She shifted her weight once more, trying to see if there was somewhere she could sit down.
They would not kill her anyway. At least, they gave no mention of it. They wanted her alive. They wanted her to suffer.
At that moment, the doors to the manor were pulled open, and two men—Sea Shadows, Kelia assumed—walked over to the ebony gates and unlocked them. The gate moved on its own accord, so the two Shadows did not have to leave the porch. Instead, they kept their narrowed gazes on Kelia, their bodies rigid, as though they were not certain if she would attack or not.
“Casey,” a low voice murmured. The Shadow to Kelia's left had a small smile, his dark hair falling into his pale blue eyes. “I am surprised you were the one who managed to land her. Your partner?”
“Dead,” Casey said, his voice short. “We killed Christop
her Beckett as well.”
“The Infant the Queen turned for the East India Company?” the second Shadow inquired with nonchalance. He unbuttoned his coat. “No matter. The Queen did not particularly care one way or the other about him. She got what she wanted out of it. In the end, she will have Knight. Especially if he comes for her.” He indicated Kelia.
“He will,” Casey insisted. “I know it.
As they stepped inside, a burst of cold hit Kelia. Somehow, the house was filled with a chill even though it was warm outside. Did the same magic that allowed Shadows to walk on an island during the day also keep the house at this icy temperature?
“Come.” The second Shadow turned on the heel of his shined black boot and led them back to the house. “The Queen will want to meet her immediately.”
“Is she awake?” Casey asked, seemingly surprised as he followed the two escorting Shadows up the stairs and through the doors.
“Of course she is,” the second one snapped. “She has been waiting for this moment for so long. You do not think she would be prepared for it?”
Kelia bit back a smile at the saucy tone and then shook her head. This moment should not be amusing to her. She should be frightened about what was to come, knowing that the Queen would want nothing more than to crush her. And yet, Kelia could not help it. It felt as though this maniacal shriek had lodged itself in her throat, and if she did not clamp her lips together, she was going to lose control not only over herself but of her thoughts and feelings.
The foyer was simple in its elegance, crisp and clean, with light-colored furniture. The sort of foyer a nice merchant would have. It felt strange, knowing this place belonged to Shadows.
The Shadows led her up a grand staircase. Her stomach growled, desperate for sustenance. Her throat remained scratchy and parched. She wanted a thorough rinse and an actual bed, to be honest, but she highly doubted the Queen would allow her to have it.
Once they finally made it to the top of the staircase, they turned right and headed down a long hallway. The carpet was crimson, the paintings on the walls erotic in nature. Kelia could not help the warmth that scattered across her cheeks, and she immediately dropped her gaze to the floor
Seeing naked bodies, even in paintings, reminded her of her evening with Drew.
Her pelvis squeezed painfully, as though every part of her longed for him once more.
He was right, of course. She should have stayed behind. However, she did not regret what happened. Wendy had saved her on Port George. While Kelia could not save Christopher, she was glad for the opportunity to save Wendy. Perhaps it was not a big thing, but it was something, and that was important.
Down the hallway, there were four doors on each side with gold handles and double doors at the very end. The two Shadows led Kelia and Casey to the double doors at the end of the hallway, and the first Shadow rapped on the sturdy door with his straight down knuckles.
“Yes?”
Kelia could barely hear the voice on the other side of the door, but she could tell it was low and feminine.
“My Queen, Kelia Starling is with us.”
There was a pause.
"I know," the voice replied evenly.
Another long pause. This time, there was whispering, though Kelia couldn’t make out what was being said.
Finally, the voice, seemingly closer since it was now easier to understand, said, "Is she properly clothed? Fed? Does she need a wash? See to her basic needs, and I will meet her in the dining hall two hours from now. Make sure she is given everything she needs. I want her strong and conscious when I see her. Do I make myself clear, Naveen?”
“Yes, ma'am.” The second one turned to his partner. “What do you think? Should she eat first? Or should we give her a bath?”
“I can give myself a bath, thank you very much,” Kelia insisted, pulling her arm away from Naveen. “I would appreciate some fruit or bread? I could nibble on that while I bathe, and that might help settle my stomach for supper later. I would also like to request some water, if that is all right. I’m absolutely parched.”
“And yet, somehow, you seem to speak without inhibitions,” the first Shadow muttered dryly. "How amusing, don't you think, Draven?"
“I don’t see why we can’t accommodate her request.” Naveen took Kelia's wrist and led her toward one of the rooms in the corridor. “You heard the Queen, Cecil. As a guest, she will receive our hospitality.” To Kelia, he said, “I shall tell the kitchen to start preparing food and return with something to fill your empty stomach.” Then he resumed addressing the other Shadow. “Cecil, will you fetch the Lycans and have them prepare a bath? I will take Ms. Starling to her room where she can undress.”
Naveen opened the door to the room and pulled Kelia through as Cecil and Draven disappeared.
She could not help but feel tears start to fill her eyes at the sight of a large, four-poster bed, and she immediately hated herself for it. She did not want to appreciate this hospitality. She wanted to be back with Drew. But she could not help her desire, her anticipation, to scrub the dirt and grime off her skin, to fill her belly, to wet her throat, and to sleep on an actual bed.
“Will these accommodations suit your needs, Ms. Starling?” Naveen asked, keeping a respectful distance from her by remaining just outside the room, close to the door.
Kelia ripped her gaze from the bed and turned to see the desk, the wardrobe, the changing divider, the large window that was currently shut. The curtains fell, covering the sunlight and any view she might have had.
She walked toward the bed, and her knees gave out just as she positioned herself to sit on the edge. The mattress dipped with her weight, and she almost let out a delighted moan. She could care less about food, about a bath. She wanted nothing more than to sleep for as long as she could, but that was not possible. Not yet.
“Why are you all trying to suit my needs?” Kelia found herself asking. She wished her body had the strength to stand, but all she could do was grip the heavy comforter with her fingers. “Why offer me this hospitality when I am a prisoner?”
“That is not for me to answer,” Naveen replied. “When you feast with the Queen, she will tell you everything you need to know.”
Kelia wanted to argue, but she didn’t have the energy to do so. She stretched her legs in front of her and flexed her toes against the tip of her boots.
“I do know you have something the Queen wants,” Naveen told her, his voice dropping from friendly to dangerous. “And the Queen will employ everything she can to get it for herself.” His expression shifted then, and Kelia wondered if it was concern she was reading in the lines around his eyes. “It would behoove you to give her what she wants when she asks for it. Perhaps then, you will not be in pain.”
“And what could I possibly have that the Queen wants?” Kelia asked.
“Drew Knight's heart.”
Chapter 26
The bath came first. The water filled in the bathtub, people pouring buckets of water into the porcelain tub, heated with magic. Kelia wouldn’t have been surprised if a Siren was responsible for that.
Navven dropped off an apple for Kelia to munch on while she soaked, and Kelia was too hungry to refuse. She was almost afraid to get in, unsure if she could trust it not to scald her skin. However, she dipped her toe inside the porcelain bathtub and nearly let out a moan of pleasure. The water was perfect.
Without hesitating any longer, she stripped off her clothes and practically threw herself inside. She put the apple core on a nearby table that also housed any concoctions that she might want to use to wash her hair, remove her knots, or soap up with.
She used it all, but all the while, she could not stop thinking of Naveen’s words. How could she give the Queen Drew’s heart?
She kept herself amused by staring out an open window, a nice breeze keeping the temperature of the room crisp and cool.
When the water started to cool, Kelia stepped out, wrapped a towel that had been laid out around her bo
dy, and was about to head back to her room when the brilliant, blue horizon caught her eye. The sky was clear, white clouds dotting the blue. The sun was big and bright, and judging by the way the leaves rustled, a gentle breeze must have carried the air. It was perfect weather.
Her heart sank deeper as she continued to look out. There was no sign of Drew's ship on the horizon. She knew she and Draven had had a head start, but she had hoped…
Perhaps it was for the better. She did not wish to risk Drew and his crew. While everything seemed to be going swimmingly for her currently, she knew this would not last. She knew she would be in pain at some point, and that would only be the beginning. She did not want Drew to have to endure anything like it.
Tears crept into her eyes, and she closed them as the drops fell down her cheeks in silent crescents. Immediately, she wiped her face with the back of her hand and took in a shaky breath. Her stomach pounded like someone outside, begging to be let inside. She needed food. She needed water. And she needed a new set of clothes even though there was part of her that wanted nothing more than to put Drew's clothes back on her body and deeply inhale, basking in his scent.
More tears fell, and Kelia headed through the door and back into her room. The woman who had been preparing her outfit jumped and nodded, jet black hair falling into her face.
This was a Lycan in its human form. Kelia had heard of them, of course, but had never expected to meet one for herself. She took a step closer to the changing divider.
"May I help?" Kelia asked.
"I'm not sure what you would like to wear, ma'am," she said, her voice low though not shaky. Her blue eyes were on her feet and her hands kept going to the dresses she was placing over the changing divider, running her fingers over the material in what seemed like a longing gesture. "The Queen will not want you in clothes that once belonged to her lover. Do any of these gowns catch your eye?"
Kelia frowned at the casual mention of Drew being the Queen's lover. She knew he had a past. A long and winding past that found him in the arms of lovers that were not Kelia. It would not be fair to assume that he would wait for her now that she was a captive; Shadows could not tell the future. He would not have known Kelia was coming into his life, let alone how he would feel about her once she did. He had thought his life was bleak and hopeless. There was a reason he had found himself drawn to particular women before Kelia, including the Queen.
Gift of Darkness: Book 3 in The Vampire Pirate Saga Page 20